Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-31

tbs Subsequent Fortunes OF the Lssds,
and Ills Party.
By WILLIAM prTTENoER,
hcxaER OF THE ExpEn1zDoS.
foopylighted, lss7, by War Publishing Co.. n. T..
anu published by arrangement with thanh
In sore perpleSity l read the Bible from
day to day and prayed, taking my turn in
praying aloud and reading with the
others. AT length l thought I began to
see that trusting Christ meant something
ike taking his words and teachings for
my guide, trying to do all that he COM
nands, aud leaving the result, while I did
this, with him. This was not that sud
den transform alton that l had hoped, butI
soon found thht it opened up a good many
things that l nad never dreamed Of. Ono
of these seemed especially strange under
tho circumstances Ihad yet but q slender
hope of ever escaping from the prison (
cept by the way Of the scaffo!d. But in
spite Of the dark prospect the question
came as an absolute test of my Obedience,
"Nill you, If satisfied that it is Gods
will, be ready to give up the profession of
law il you ever get home and 60 into the
AAlAiAStES! AIS ulSl anu SPONTANEOUS tt"
ply was, "No!" I had studied law and
meant to practice it il I ever got where
law reigncd. But at once the self re.
Spouse was clear, "NVLat kind of
obedience is thiss' I saw that l
was not sincere in proposing to enlist
under Christ as my captain, unless
I would really obey him. 1t would be a
poor allegiance that stopped short with
thn tI;,r, ,1r%I - l.. NJ &c.
time l could not pass this point. The
difficulty when communicated to my
prison companions seemed utterly absurd.
''Try to serve God in the prison, where
you are" they said with \ rough plausi-
bility, "and don't bother about preaching,
being q lawyer, or anything else, when
you get out, for you never will get OUT"
This seemed good advice, but it would
not bring i serene mind or tho victory
over the fear of death which I SO much
desired. One after another of those in
the prison found the comfort / lacked;
and it was not till wearied and worn out
with the struggle hat l vowed il God
would only give me his peace, I would
serve him as sincerely in the prison or out
Of it as l had tried to serve my country,
and in any way that he might direct.
Oh! that this vow had been always more
faithfully kept!
From this time I did have a steady con-
viction that l was on tho Lords side, and
that had q right to commit myself and
my life to his keeping. The prison did
not prove a palace; its discomiorts were
still felt lseenly, and tho prospect Of death
by the Callows did not appear more inyit-
ing. | would not have Gcen the less ready
to make any desperate venture for escape;
but l had u hope which went beyond Tho
prison and the scaffo!d-heyond any con-
tingency Of earthly fortune, whilc il did
not take away any real earthly good.
We all remember With deepest graft
tudc the Rev. George &. n. NacDonall,
n Of those who ATTENDED our comrades
on tho day Of death. We did not see
either Of tho clcrgymcn then, or know
who they were, or, indeed, that there was
such attendance until long after. Whether
Rev Mr.. Scott did visit US or not I am I'M
able to state with positiveness. A minis
ter came, and l was afterward told that
his name was Scott, but he may have been
another person, US I think thia ono was
not q resident Of the city. The interview
in this latter case was unpleasant. The
preacher had been brought in by our
old jailer on the very natural presumption
that persons who prayed and sun SO
AAN~A "SoAA AAS w ~ q SAC4 Allh
he promised the officer of the guard that
he would talk only about religion. But
his first question built up an impossible
barrier between us. He asked how 70
could be SO wicked as to come down there
and fight against the south and try to
overturn their government We had been
trying TO repent Of our sins, but had not
got SO far as that particular one yet, and
answered a little tartly by asking how he
and his friends could be so wicked as to
rebel against n good government. He
answered by a reference to the north try
ing to overthrow slavery. and l asked
him If it was possible that he, a minister,
was an apologist for slavery! 1t hap
pened that he was 4 Jealous defender Of
the institution and very sensitive on this
point; and so much noise was soon made
In the discussion that the guard removed
him. He did not COM again.
But our interview and subsequent &C.
quaintance with Rev. Mr.. MacDoneu was
Of q very different character, though 1t
also opened unpromisingly. In his first
prayer he petitioned very earnestly that
our lives might be spared If consistent
with tho good Of the Confederacy! This
offended some Of US, but the better opinion
was that If sincere in his loyalty to the
rebel authority, he could hardly have
prayed differently. So kind was he to US
afterward that some thought he might
possibly be a Union man in real senti-
ments; but he has since assured me that he
was not In the slightest degree, and that
all he did for us was at the dictates Of hui
manity and religion. We had a very pleas
ant interview. He gave Us valuable coun-
sol, and l felt it a great privilege to talk
rWoW rc0sriNS,o r,nek:o~1 rr:Ah 1n~ ~ l~AnI